Electrolyte



Patented Feb. 19, 192 4.

; UNITED STATES CARLOSCAR HOEN. OF'$T. PAUL, MINNESOTA ELECTROLYTE.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may (:OHCCI'R.

Be it known that I, CARI. ()scan .llOEN, a citizen of the United States. residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ran'iscy and State 6 of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrolytes. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrolyte-s for storage batteries and has for its objectto lfl'produce an electrolyte which [n'eserves the. life of a. storage battery and pcrn'lits the some to be more readily charged when run down. 1

Another object is to produce an electro- 16 lytc which may readily be substituted for the existing electrolyte in partly worirout batteries which would permit the same to be readily charged thereby increasing the usefulness of the same.

Another object is to provide a solution which may he made in highly colurcntrated form and which can be readily shipped or stored and which can be diluted as required, thereby saving freight charges and capacity of containers.

In the use of storage batteries where a dilute sulplmric acid alone is used as the electrolyte, it has been found that if the battery has been used for considerable period 3 of time, the plates become readily sulphated and it. is exeeedin ly diflicult to make the battery take an charge. I overcome this difliculty by adding to the sulphuric. acid. a mixture of sulphate of magnesium and alum, which eliminates the undesirable properties in the battery, rendering the same more useful and prolonging the life of the battery.

In preparing: the electrolyte I prefer to use the ingredients in about the following proportions, nann-ly:

Seven gallons of distilled water; Eleven and one-half gallons sulphuric acid; Eighteen pounds magnesium sulphate, And one, pound alum dissolved in two gab lons water. I iood results, however. may be obtained hen the portions are slightly varied though I find the best results obtained by using the chemicals in the exact proportions. The electrolyte may he prepared as follows. To make 41. gallons of the finished electiiolyte when diluted, I tirspfmake 201g gallons 56 of the concentrated so fiztion as follows:

. maintain the proper AppIication filed June' 8, 1922. S erial No. 566,868.

Into seven gallons of distilled water, slowly pour eleven and one-half gallons of sulphuric acid (H 80 stirring the same constantly. lhis should bring the specific gravity of the solution up to 1.600. Let the solution cool until the temperature falls below 1-20. degrees F. After this stir into the solution eighteen pounds of sulphate of magnesium M son until dissolved. Stirring inthe sulphate of magnesium add a solution of alum prepared by dissolving one pound of alum into two gallons of water."

After all of these ingredients have been embodied into the solution, the specific gravity should measure 1.550.

The solution as above prepared makes a. concentrated Stock solution which may be stored for use until required. In usin the electrolyte add an equal amount by volume, of distilled water to the stock solution,

graduallystirring the same and then allowins to cool below 70 F. This makes a solution which can be directly placed in the battery, as soon as the battery has been properly cleaned out from dirt and any deposit which may be accumulated within the same.

When this solution is cool the specific gravity will measure 12300;

The advantages of my invention are manifest. The electrolyte prevents excessive sulpliation and breaks down the white lead sulphate when formed. This has the efl'ect of increasing the life and usefulness of storage batteries to a great extent. M invention is particularly useful in used att/cries where the plates have become sulphated, as the activity oi. the battery is fully restored and the. battery brought to a serviceable condition. The electrolyte may be prepared as a stock solution which may be indefinitely kept until desired for use. at which time the same can be conveniently diluted to the proper specific gravity. 1 In accordance with the patent statutes, I

of my invention, together with the ingredients which I now considerto represent the ha\'e described the principles of operation best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the receipt described is only illustrative and that the invention 106 can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An electrolyte comprising a solution of 110 5 following sulphuric acid, sulphate of magnesium and alum.

2. An electrolyte comprising a solution consisting. of ingredients mixed in about the proportions: distilled water. seven gallons; sulphuric acid, eleven and one-half gallons; sulphate of magnesium,

eighteen pounds and 'a solution of alum prepared by dissolving one pound-alum in two gallons of water, diluted with an equal 10 amount by volume of water.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CARL OSCAR'HOEN. 

